Times are still tough but thankfully a backlash against 'reality' programmes seens to ahve started see this CNN story

technovamp | October 12, 14:16 CET

Thanks for that link, technovamp, interesting little read.

I'm a firm believer that there is room for a little of everything on television. The schedules are more than large enough to provide for everyone if the networks would just use a little sense and not latch on to an idea and oversaturate, the way they always seem to do.

I'm not a massive fan of reality television personally. Apart from my Big Brother addiction (hey, we are all allowed a guilty pleasure or two!) i really don't watch anything you would describe as reality based. If i'm going to spend my time watching the box then it needs to be something that will get me away from reality for a while. However, i'm not saying that reality shows should not be on the air. There are those that love that kind of thing and as such they should be catered for.

My feeling are pretty much the same for Alyson's current show. I'm not much of a sitcom watcher at all. When it comes to comedy i much prefer standup (Peter Kay is officially the funniest man in the world ... ever!) or comedy panel series like Never Mind the Buzzcocks or QI. Scripted comedy shows really never cut it with me. In fact since Friends ended the only one that has held my interest is Scrubs. I seriously doubt i will be watching How I Met Your Mother, should it air over here, simply because it sounds a little run of the mill to me. For Aly's sake i hope it gets a good run though, same goes for Nick's series.

WhedonTrivia | October 12, 14:49 CET

That's a good sign, technovamp. I think it's too soon to tell for either Kitchen or Mother. I just hope the networks feel the same way. They (especially Fox, of course) are just too trigger happy.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-10-12 12:54 ]

electricspacegirl | October 12, 14:54 CET

Yep, hopefully this will mean that there's more quality scripted television to be had in the future. Actually, this season has been quite promising already, as far as I'm concerned. My two favorites among the new shows thus far are 'Prison Break' and 'Night Stalker'. And I'm also still watching 'Invasion'. It's still pretty early, but the signs are good.

As far as HIMYM is concerned, I hope it continues. I had my doubts with the first ep, but the second and third have been great. It's a fun sitcom, the laughtrack doesn't bother me anymore, and I'm going to keep watching it as long as it stays on te air.

GVH | October 12, 15:28 CET

I doubt HIMYM is in any danger. The show has averaged 10million viewers and CBS have been promoting the hell out of it (the cast was on The View the other day).

Unfortunately Kitchen Confidential is unlikely to make it to a full season if ratings don't improve.

ObserveandApply | October 12, 15:51 CET

It wasn't a huge drop, it's still within an acceptable range.
So I do agree with VJP666. There's a closer chance for CBS giving it a full season, rather than axing it.

This show's been growing on me lately. New shows (which excludes VM) with ME alums, this along KC, may be my favorite installments this season.

Numfar PTB | October 12, 17:26 CET

I watched most of this again this week. I don't hate it and I hope both this and KC do well, but I don't think I'll be watching anymore. First off, the sitcom thing just is not doing it for me. More than that, this show is already starting to wear thin with the idea that every week we meet another woman who is not going to be the one he marries. Shaggy dog tales never did much for me and I assume that that will be what it is since this could go on for years if it is successful. I just find the never ending story annoying after a fairly short while. If it was going to have a specific number of episodes or his character was going to be going through a huge arc in the course of the show, OK. I don't see the latter happening and the former is not what the show set out to do. So, as i say; I hope it does well and all the actors and crew have lots of work for a long time.

newcj | October 12, 19:40 CET

HIMYM isn't awful or anything but it's so very, very standard american sitcom formula. It's trying to leech off of the whole 'Friends' style waay to much for one, and I just can't watch any clones of that anymore, no matter how hard Aly tries her best. This genre needs a huge shot in the arm. I know Scurbs or AD have already tried a different tone, but perhaps american audiences like their sitcoms same-old, same-old. Then again if that is true why are most of them getting canceled lately?

With Kitchen Confidential, I could barely make it through the trailers to tell you the truth.

EdDantes | October 12, 20:02 CET

I know Scurbs

I know Scurbs too....almost as funny as that show Scrubs! :~P

Hey, I gotta get something back after the 'noble grape'!

Rogue Slayer | October 12, 20:12 CET

Neil Patrick Harris is totally the best thing on HIMYM - he makes me laugh out loud every week. And Aly's acting seemed to calm down a bit more this week - for the first few eps the way she was approaching everything reminded me a lot of how she was in When Harry Met Sally... in London: way way over the top and way way too loud.

I've been watching HIMYM and KC since day one of both shows and I prefer KC, but I'll stick with both till whenever they end.

rockgoddes | October 12, 20:37 CET

The actual words used by MediaWatch magazine were that with regard to HIMYM, they were "waiting for the axe to drop."

Dana5140 | October 12, 20:54 CET

Sorry, misquoted- here is what MediaWEEK said:

MediaWeek reports that HIMYM is losing its audience, that it has dropped each of the four weeks it has been on, and for this past Monday finished 4th in its time slot. With regard to CBS, this is what MediaWeek has to say:

CBS
-Close To Home: too soon to tell.
-Criminal Minds: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
-Ghost Whisperer: shoo-in for a full-season renewal.
-How I Met Your Mother: waiting for the axe to swing.
-Out Of Practice: on the fence.
-Threshold: expected full season pick-up.

Dana5140 | October 12, 20:57 CET

Heh, well, to me with these sitcoms, it's not originality that matters so much, as long as fun is had, I can laugh at the jokes and the characters aren't annoying. That, so far, is happening with HIMYM, so I'll still be watching. The thing is, most 'same as all the rest' sitcoms don't work for me, because the humor just doesn't work. I am amused by HIMYM, so I guess it must be doing something right, though I agree there's nothing original to be had.



Hmm, I never watched Scrubs. I'm sure it's great (people who's tastes I trust keep telling me it is, so it must be), but it's the hospital setting. I can't watch anything that features a hospital setting every week. It bums me out, even if it's a comedy. I'm just weird, I guess ;-).

AD has been mentioned here a couple of times. I take it it's good, then?



I've only seen the first ep so far. The issue I had with KC was that I didn't actually like any of the main characters. I'm still going to give the show more of a chance, though.

GVH | October 12, 20:58 CET

GVH, Arrested Development is awesome. It's the best sit-com, in my opinion. Very weird and bizarre and twisted. It just gets weirder and weirder every week with all the in-jokes and self-mocking. I didn't get into it until I watched the first season on DVD becuase until then I didn't understand the characters. The jokes rely a lot on past events but if you get them, they're hysterical. It's become appointment TV for me.

electricspacegirl | October 12, 21:19 CET

I tried AD a couple times on the recommendations from the folks here. The second time I realized why I was getting very turned off. It is about people who are supposed to be stupid, annoying and, if I recall correctly, treat each other badly. Hence, I assume, the name. Although I realize that is one of the staples of humor, it always irks me. I just can't watch that kind of humor and don't find it funny, just depressing. Oh well, something else will come down the pike eventually, and I"ll probably read about it here first. ;-)

newcj | October 12, 21:32 CET

newcj, I agree. I couldn't get into AD, but I did try. And I guess I just expect for a 1/2 hour comedy that you can just drop in and find something funny about it, but I don't think that's their idea. I found myself going, "Um, I think he's supposed to be funny..." and "I assume they're referring to something from the past and I'm supposed to find it humorous now..." Meh. Sadly, I've not found any comedies to watch recently. I'm not even sure when Scrubs is on anymore. It got a bit serious for me to enjoy as a comedy.

Rogue Slayer | October 12, 22:12 CET

Hmm, I might try AD. I'm not sure if it's my thing, but if people can enjoy it as much as ESG seems to be doing, it's got to be doing something right. I'm gonna try to see if I can watch it from the beginning...too bad tv shows aren't up for rental in The Netherlands, that'd make things easier.

GVH | October 12, 22:33 CET

Well I think it's possibly the funniest sit-com of all time, it certainly makes me lol more than any other. I wouldn't say it's my favourite though, that award goes to Scrubs.

Paul_Rocks | October 12, 22:39 CET

AD is funny if you haven't watched the previous episodes, but hysterically funny if you have. There are definitely a lot of character-driven jokes. For example, a lot of the incest humor work best because it builds incrementally and absurdly over the episodes. The added layer of them getting away with having all the dirty sexual innuendo on network TV is just a bonus.

chickenbird | October 12, 23:05 CET

Scrubs is one of my favorites ever. Hysterical. I highly recommend it. I haven't watched AD but there are loads of fans out there and that says something.

I don't want to see KC cancelled but I fear it will be.

WhoIsOmega? | October 13, 01:49 CET

I haven't gotten into Scrubs. I'm interested because the quotes I've read are totally my kind of humor. But, just like AD, I just can't get into the characters when I watch a random episode. The DVDs are on my list but I don't netfix anymore and the library doesn't have them. I'll have to go rent them one of these days.

electricspacegirl | October 13, 07:05 CET